Question reference: S6W-05819
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 20 January 2022
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 January 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to discourage the deliberate discarding of gillnets by fishing vessels beyond the six-mile limit.
Answer
The disposal of litter and fishing gear at sea is covered by the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Regulations. In UK waters these regulations are enforced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Scottish Government’s Marine Scotland Compliance Officers report incidents through their intelligence system to the MCA and periodically remind vessels of their obligations under MARPOL.
Whilst the question specifically references the six-mile limit, it is also highlighted for completeness that there is no access for any non-UK vessel inside 12 nautical miles anywhere around the Scottish coast.